Powerplays Decisive for Hosts

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 5:3 (3:0, 2:1, 0:2)

Goals: 7. Daugaviņs (Galuzin), 11. Sopin (Daugaviņs, Siomin), 16. S. Kostitsyn (Ashton, Aliayev), 34. Daugaviņs (Aliayev), 40. Ashton (Kostitsyn, Osipov) – 25. Viedenský, 46. Tičar (Barker, Jeglič)

Lineups:
Torpedo: Proskuriakov – Khomitsky, Budkin, Aliayev, Yegorshev, Kondratev, Osipov, Shulenin, Schütz – Shurakov, Ilin, Rudenkov – Sopin, Siomin (C), Daugaviņs – Ashton, S. Kostitsyn, Videll – Frolov, Galuzin, Kulyomin,
HC SLOVAN: Garnett (Brust) – Barker, Mihalik, Sersen (A), Luža, Starosta, Švarný, Kozák – Paré, Nedorost, Kašpar – Skalický, Surový (C), Bartovič – Jeglič, Tičar, Nagy (A) – Skalický, Lušňák, Šťastný

HC SLOVAN Bratislava did not start their first game after the international break badly, closing down their opponents early on, but Proskuriakov in the Torpedo net had little trouble handling their long-range efforts. A five-on-three powerplay got Torpedo started; while it didn't pay immediate dividends, a precise strike from Daugavinš with a one-man advantage punished Slovan - 1:0. The Sky Blues the played with their own numerical advantage, but failed to create any major openings. The home team, however, made another powerplay count, Sopin providing the finish to a nice combination - 2:0. In the 16th minute, Torpedo notched up their third of the period, when Kosticyn diverted Ashton's shot into the net - 3:0.

Four minutes into the second period, Tomáš Surový won a face off in the attacking zone, and the rebound from Bartovič's effort was knocked in by the returning Marek Viedenský - 3:1. Slovan came so close to getting back into the game, with the third line applying pressure, but none of Tičar, Jeglič or Nagy could direct the bouncing puck into the net. Torpedo then restored their three-goal lead in the 34th minute, their third in a powerplay - left open in front of goal, Daugavins claimed his second of the match - 4:1. But the home team were not finished yet. In the final minute of the period, Carter Ashton struck from up close - 5:1.

Torpedo played sensibly in the final period, concentrating on retaining their lead. Nevertheless, Skalický broke free in the 43rd minute, but the home defence managed to step in at the last minute. Slovan did find the target a couple of minutes later, when a nice touch from Rok Tičar directed Barker's shot home - 5:2. Tičar's line kept the home defence busy, running rings round the defence, but the attacks twice ended with Jeglič firing just wide. Kašpar shared his ill fortune, just missing the target with a low shot. Slovan picked up their third goal four minutes from the end, Cam Barker showing no mercy in a powerplay - 5:3, but despite piling on the pressure with the goalie pulled in the last couple of minutes, they made no further inroads.

Miloš Říha: The first period decided it - we gave away several penalties and conceded three goals. At 3:0 we found our feet, but instead of scoring goals, we conceded more. In the final period we showed commitment, but in spite of numerous chances, we only managed to score twice.